High resolution accurate MS with an LTQ-Orbitrap identified two novel metabolites of diclofenac in rat bile and rat and human hepatocyte incubations: a benzyl-S-glutathione conjugate and 2-(2,6-dichlorophenylamino) benzoic acid. A mechanism for the bioactivation of diclofenac involving decarboxylation is proposed.
Keywords: glutathione adduct, DPABA, diclofenac decarboxylation, Bioactivation pathway, Reconstructed ion chromatogram